Surface Pro 3 vs. Surface Pro 2 vs Surface Pro: A Spec Showdown

Microsoft has tried positioning its tablet lineup as devices that are capable of enough computing power to replace laptops, but no one seemed to really buy into the premise. Most tablet owners possess and use a laptop. In response, Microsoft has upped the ante with its latest tablet, the Surface Pro 3, to really throw down the gauntlet against laptops once and for all. The Surface Pro 3 is an upgrade in every sense over its predecessors, but is it enough to take over the laps of users?

Surface Pro

Surface Pro 2

Surface Pro 3

Size

275 x 173 x 13 (mm)

275 x 173 x 13 (mm)

292 x 201 x 9.1 (mm)

Weight

910g

907g

800g

Screen

10.6-inch ClearType HD

10.6-inch ClearType Full HD

12-inch ClearType Full HD

Resolution

1920×1080 pixels

1920×1080 pixels

2160×1440 pixels

OS

Windows 8 Pro

Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8.1

Storage

64/128/256GB

64/128/256/512GB

64/128/256/512GB

SD Card Slot

Yes

Yes

Yes

Other Ports

USB 3.0, HD video out

USB 3.0, HD video out

USB 3.0, HD video out

Processor

Dual core 1.7GHz Intel Core i5

Dual-core 1.9 GHz Intel Core i5

Core i3/Core i5/Core i7

RAM

4GB

4/8GB

4/8GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

Camera

Front 1MP, Rear 1MP

Front 1.2MP, Rear 1.2MP

Front 3.5MP, Rear 5MP

Bluetooth

Yes, version 4.0

Yes, version 4.0

Yes, version 4.0

Battery

42 Wh (5 hours of use)

42 Wh (10 hours of use)

10 hours of use

Charger

Micro USB

Micro USB

Micro USB (USB 3.0)

Marketplace

Windows Store

Windows Store

Windows Store

Price

$300+

$900+

$800+

Computing Power

Microsoft made every effort to make sure the Surface Pro 3 was compared to laptops, not other tablets, when being discussed on stage at its announcement event. The phrase “full power of the PC” was used on multiple occasions and the more you’re willing to invest into the device, the more computing power you’ll get. Users will get either 4GB if they stay under the $1,000 threshold or 8GB when above. The entry level model comes with an Intel Core i3, the two mid-range devices running on an i5 processor, and the high-end devices run on the i7.

Microsoft has also managed to slim down the Surface Pro 3 while maintaining or improving upon the processors in the devices that came before it. There’s plenty of power in all of these options, though its not a huge upgrade over the older models of Surface Pros and continue to count on dual core processors. These processors also still requires the accompaniment of a fan.

Accessories

One of the biggest points of emphasis made with the Surface Pro 3 are the accessories. The Type Cover that has accompanied Surface devices since their start has been improved, making it easier to negotiate the positions the Surface Pro 3 can be used from. Microsoft spoke about “lap-ability” and believes a new adjustable kickstand in combination with the Type Cover’s magnetic seal will make it easier to sit with the Surface Pro 3. The Type Cover’s touchpad has also been improved and increased in size, a major complaint that plagued previous versions of the Surface Pro.

Additionally, the Surface Pro 3 now has compatibility with a pen, which Microsoft insists is not a stylus. The pen was used on the Surface Pro 3’s screen to write, which turned written letters into printed type or left it as handwriting depending on the application it was used with.

Price

If you’re looking at the high end of the Surface Pro 3 family, it can be easy to be scared away. The top end device reaches close to the $2,000, which is competitive with super powerful laptops. Microsoft is hoping even the midrange prices will compare well to laptops in the same bracket, and specifically made a point to compare to the MacBook lineup. Whether people will be willing to overlook the “tablet” label and start considering the Surface Pro 3 a real laptop and thus pay the price for it is yet to be seen. The entry level version of the Surface Pro 3 starts at $800, which is an easier pill to swallow as long as on doesn’t compare to to tablets, which rarely reach into that range.

Considering the original Surface Pro took a sizable price drop upon the release of the Surface Pro 2, we can expect the Surface Pro 2 will likewise slide down the pricing scale with the Surface Pro 3 announced.

The Surface Pro 3 will officially be available for pre-order May 21, 2014 and will be released June 20, 2014.

If you're looking for savings on the Surface Pro 6, Amazon is the place to shop. It currently is discounting the Intel Core i7 variant of Microsoft's latest 2-in-1 by $300, though no Type Cover is included.

The Surface Pro 6 is officially here, though it's not as big of a redesign as you might have hoped. With a new coat of black paint and an 8th-gen processor, this is a small update. If you've been eyeing a Surface Pro, you may want to wait…

Ready to experience a radical transformation in mobile communication? AT&T is launching mobile 5G in cities across the country over the next few months. Here's everything you need to know about the AT&T 5G rollout.

It has been years in the making, but 5G is finally becoming a reality. While 5G coverage is still extremely limited, expect to see it expand in 2019. Not sure what 5G even is? Here's everything you need to know.

The world of hybrid smartwatches is getting much larger, and the latest comes from a name with history — New York Standard Watches. In our NYSW GTS Activity Tracker review, we find out what makes this watch special, and why we were so…

In December 2016, Google launched Gboard with support for an already-impressive 100 languages. Since then, however, Google has added a hefty 400 languages to the software keyboard, bringing the total number to 500.